Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

I am so happy to say that after years and years of wanting a really nice DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera, I FINALLY got one for my birthday! I absolutely love taking pictures. It’s so rewarding to get that perfect shot and turn it into a vintage jewelry sale on Etsy, a feature photo on Housewives of Frederick County, or a beautiful canvas print for our home. My little point-and-shoot cameras and my iPhone have been sufficient, but it was time to go to that next level and get more serious about my photography. My DSLR camera of choice is the Canon EOS Rebel T3i. I decided to take it with me on a beautiful Frederick Fall drive with my Momma and see what this camera can do.

I have to say, I know absolutely NOTHING about things like ISO speed, aperture, filters, different size lenses, dioptric adjustments, white balance, exposure compensation, shutter speed, or any of the other camera terms that are thrown around in the manual that came with my camera. All I know is that it’s a really nice camera and can take really nice shots. I would eventually like to take a class to further my knowledge on photography skills. But for now, I’m experimenting my way through it.

I called my Momma and asked her if she’d like to ride along with me to test out my camera on a beautiful fall day in Frederick. My Mom happily obliged. She’s retired and lives alone and welcomes any opportunity to hang out with myself and my sister.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

This is my Momma. Isn’t she cute? This picture was taken by Terri at my Oktoberfest party the day before our fall drive.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

I didn’t know where I was going to go. All I knew is that I wanted to drive around Frederick and find some good photo opps (I’m trying to talk like a photographer). Our first stop was off of Cap Stine Road at a gorgeous farm full of beautiful horses. My Mom was oooohing and ahhhhing the entire time.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

The next stop was on Mountville Road in Adamstown. We happened upon this scene and I had to stop and run across the street, through a ditch to get these next few shots. I quickly discovered that being a photographer can be potentially dangerous. These picturesque scenes aren’t always easy to get to.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

After crossing the busy road back to my car that was halfway in a ditch and scaring my Mom into thinking we might have to be towed out, we squealed tires away and onto our next stop right across the railroad tracks into Adamstown to this old building. I think it was a private property and I felt like I might be shot by its owner, so I hurriedly took these next shots.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

This is where my Mom started yelling from the car ‘Daughter, back up! …More!……More!……Okay, now take that shot!’ She was getting into it at this point.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

I hurriedly got back in the car and hauled butt out of the private property to our next stop which was located near the Carroll Manor Fire Department. We came upon this wrecked car just sitting in the middle of a field. It was obviously there for a reason – to show people what reckless driving can do to a car and to the people inside. My Mom and I were praying that the people involved in this accident escaped unharmed. And I decided that a great shot isn’t worth the type of driving I was doing before I took this photo.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

The below photo is an old school. It used to be Adamstown Elementary School back in the day before they built Carroll Manor Elementary School. There’s something about taking photos of old dilapidated buildings. You wonder about the history of the building when it was in its prime and the people who frequented it. I learned from my neighbor that after this building was no longer used as a school, it was used to butcher hogs for many years until changes and costs of permits made the hog butchering unprofitable.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

This next photo is part of my ‘dilapidated building’ theme. We happened upon this one on Manor Woods Road.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

After driving a while and enjoying the gorgeous day, talking and laughing with my Mom, we ended up on Basford Road. A road I’ve never driven on. It was beautiful. We rode by this little farm with some little horses. This horse is looking at me as if to say ‘Keep movin’ along, there’s nothing to see here!’.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

So as I looked forward to keep driving, this was my view. A gorgeous tree-lined road.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

After leaving Basford Road and finding my way back to knowing where I was, we drove into one of my personal favorite towns, Middletown.

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

I parked in one of the little parking lots off of Main Street and snapped this shot of this pretty flower blowing in the wind. I’m really liking the close-ups that this camera can capture!

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

I then walked up to Main Street and snapped these couple of shots. Small Town America at it’s best!

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

My last photos for the day were taken at another farm off of Deer Spring Road. I LOVE this farm. It is so picturesque and also happens to be the way I drive my son to school every morning. Sometimes we stop and say hi to the horses. They always tell my son that they love him and to have a great day at school. My son laughs at me and tells me that horses can’t really talk, but I know that they’re thinking that!

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

Beautiful Frederick Fall Drive with Momma

My Mom kept saying how beautiful a day it was and how glad she was that I included her on my very first photographic expedition. She told me that she loved me very much.

Later on, I realized that it wasn’t so much about experimenting with my camera on a beautiful day. It was so much more than that. It was about spending time with my Mom. I’m so lucky to still have her in my life. And it was so evident how happy this drive with me made her. That was the true message that I brought home with me. I love you Momma!

So here are my lessons learned on my first picture taking journey:

Don’t risk life and limb crossing busy roads and parking in ditches just to get a good shot.

Don’t haul ass onto somebody’s private property just because you see a good potential photo subject. You might get shot.

DO bring your Momma with you as often as you can. You have no idea how much she’ll appreciate it. And you’ll appreciate it too and never forget the wonderful day the two of you shared together.

Pam is married and has 1 son – a middle-schooler in his tween years. She followed Terri to Frederick in 1999. She absolutely loves going to yard sales and estate sales and finding hidden treasures. read more...

About Pam

Pam is married and has 1 son – a middle-schooler in his tween years. She followed Terri to Frederick in 1999. She absolutely loves going to yard sales and estate sales and finding hidden treasures. read more...

Comments

Thank you Tracey! I’ve been crying the last couple of days writing this. I almost didn’t do this post because I didn’t think the pictures were that great. But then I realized the bigger message I wanted to convey in the post. Thanks for reading it 🙂

Oh Pam, I enjoyed this so much. Your photos were beautiful, and Frederick is such a gorgeous place…but most of all I loved what you wrote. You and your sister are indeed lucky to still have your mom and dad in your life; and I know how much you all love each other. I envy you for that. My mom died suddenly when I was only 35 (she was 58) and I miss her every day. Your mom did such a great job raising wonderful loving and caring children, especially the two of you….now she gets to reap the benefits by having you wanting to be with and spend time with her. I am so happy for you about that. It did bring tears to my eyes and I realize more what very special people you are and how lucky I am to know you all.

Thank you so much Nancy. You’re so sweet & I’m so very sorry you lost your Mom at such a young age. It’s days like this drive together that really make me feel so lucky to still have my Mom in my life.